COVID-19 Community Update – April 10

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As this week comes to a close, the EOC and University leadership remain humbled by the responsiveness and steadfast support this community has demonstrated in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The EOC continues to monitor the impact of COVID-19 developments and will provide guidance and recommended actions that are responsive to rapidly changing circumstances due to the pandemic.

Safer At Home Order Extended

Los Angeles County Public Health extended its Safer at Home Order through May 15 and requires essential businesses to develop and implement social distancing plans and provide face coverings for critical employees by April 15. Due to the order’s extension, the University has taken the following actions:

  • All of the University’s COVID-19 response measures including interim protocols for telecommuting, travel, and campus visitors are extended through May 15.
  • All in-person University events have been suspended through May 15.
  • All faculty and staff should continue to work remotely when possible. Faculty and staff may access campuses to facilitate remote distance learning or perform essential functions if that work cannot be accomplished remotely. Supervisors should ensure the minimum number of Critical Support Personnel are reporting to work to maintain essential University operations.

Guidance for Face Coverings

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued guidance for wearing cloth face coverings when in public spaces to obtain essential goods or services as an additional tool to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Face coverings are not intended to be a replacement of other evidence-based measures for preventing illness, including frequent hand washing; avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; and practicing physical distancing, especially by staying at home. Community members should also follow any orders issued by local authorities.

To comply with the updated Los Angeles County Public Health Safer at Home Order, Pepperdine University is developing an Interim Face Coverings Protocol and is now requiring University Critical Support Personnel interacting with others to wear face coverings. 

Graduate Campus Access and Mail Delivery Services

As the University adjusts operations to match the rhythm of the current working environment, graduate campus staffing, access, and mail delivery are temporarily changing. Beginning Monday, April 13, the Calabasas, Encino, Irvine, and West L.A. campuses will be closed with no graduate campus staffing. Critical support faculty and staff may continue to access these campuses to do essential work that must be completed on-site and can refer to the access instructions document for additional details. In addition, Mail Services will deliver mail to the graduate campuses on Mondays and Thursdays, instead of every weekday, starting next week.

Pepperdine Community Case Update

This week the University learned of an employee who received a positive COVID-19 test result and is currently hospitalized undergoing treatment. The University has notified all individuals known to the University to have been in contact with the individual. The University community is encouraged to keep this individual in its prayers.

As the University continues with remote operations for faculty, staff, and students, the EOC will be providing general updates when it learns of newly reported COVID-19 cases within the community. The University will continue to provide potential exposure notifications to impacted community members as appropriate.

President’s Briefing

President Gash is holding a special online President’s Briefing for faculty, staff, and students each Monday at 9 AM while the University maintains modified operations due to COVID-19. Live and archived viewing for each briefing are available on the President’s Briefing website.

The University will continue to keep the community informed on COVID-19 developments as new information becomes available. The latest updates can be found on the University’s COVID-19 website and Emergency Information Page.

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